Self-efficacy perceptions of science teacher candidates and their attitudes towards the teaching profession

In this study, the perceptions of science teacher candidates' self-efficacy and their attitudes towards the teaching profession were investigated using the relational screening method. The sample of this study consists of 39 science teacher candidates studying in the 3rd and 4th grades in the Science Teaching Department of Fırat University, Faculty of Education in the 2023-2024 academic year. A personal information form, the ''Teacher Self-efficacy Scale'' and the ''Attitude Towards the Teaching Profession Scale'' were used as data collection tools. In the study, firstly, the level of teacher candidates' perceptions of teaching self-efficacy and their attitudes towards the teaching profession and whether these differ according to gender, grade level, type of high school they graduated from, mother and father's education status, place of residence, order of choosing the department they study in, and their satisfaction with the department they study in were examined. Then, the level of relationship between teacher candidates' perceptions of teaching self-efficacy and their attitudes towards the teaching profession was examined. In the analysis of the data obtained in the research, independent sample t-test and percentage, frequency, Pearson correlation coefficient values were used. SPSS 21.0 package program was used in the data analysis process. According to the findings of this research, while a statistically significant difference was found between the teaching self-efficacy perceptions of science teacher candidates and mother's education status, no statistically significant difference was found in terms of gender, class level, type of high school they graduated from, father's education status, place of residence, order of choosing the department they studied and their satisfaction with the department they studied. While a statistically significant difference was found between the teacher candidates' attitudes towards the profession and their satisfaction with the department they studied; no statistically significant difference was found in terms of gender, class level, type of high school they graduated from, mother's and father's education status, place of residence and order of choosing the department they studied. It was found that there was a positive moderate relationship between teacher candidates' perception of teaching self-efficacy and their attitude towards the teaching profession.